Return-envelop



J. KUHHORN.

RETURN ENVELOP- PPLICATION FILED NOV-29 1919 1,373,51 2. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

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WITNESS: INVEN TOR.

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1. KUHHOHN.

RETURN ENVELOP- APPLICATION FILED NOV-29, 1919.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS:

A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KUHHORN, OFN'EW YORK, N. Y.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

RETURN-ENVELOP.

1 373 512 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 29, 1919. Serial No. 341,474.

To all whom z'tmay com-em.

Be it known that 1, JOHN KUI HoRN, a citizen of the United States, reslding at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Return-Envelops, and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements 1n envelops and similar receptaclesfolded from paper or like material, and aims to provide novel and useful sealing means for such an envelop, bag or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a practical, inexpenslve, simple and efiicient reply or two trip mailing envelop, provided wlth a novel closure flap arrangement for initially seallng and forwarding the envelop, conveniently opening the envelop, and then agam sealing same and concealing the canceled postage stamp.

Another object is the provision of an envelop having initial sealing and reserve or return flaps, and novel means for receiving and shielding the reserve flap on the outside of the envelop, whereby it Wlll not interfere with the insertion or removal of the contents of the envelop, and to avoid the tearing or mutilation of such reserve flap and envelop, as well as exposing the reserve flap for convenient sealing of the envelop for the return or second trip, and the arrangement being such that the reserve flap is concealed during the initial trip by the initial sealing flap.

A further object is the provision of such an envelop, the initial sealing flap of which is provided with novel means for attachment to the envelop for initial sealing and to conceal the reserve flap, and to enable the initial sealing flap to be conveniently severed, whereby convenient access to the contents of the envelop is had, as well as exposing the reserve fiap and enabling it to be readily moved into position for the second sealing of the envelop for the return tri Ti; is also within the scope of the invention to produce an envelop of the character indicated, requiring a minimum amount of stock for the blank thereof, which can be readily and inexpensively folded and com- -which the envelop is folded.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the envelop as 1n1t1ally sealed, a portion of the initial sealing being broken away, and such flap being shown open in dot and dash lines.

Fig.3 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of a modified form of envelop which can be mailed as second class matter with the initial flap unsealed, and showing a portion of such flap being removed in order that the remainder can be Eetained in place similar to the reserve The blank from which the envelop is formed, as seen in Fig. 1, is of substantially rectangular form, using a minimum amount of paper or similar stock. The envelop, as usual, comprises two sides, including the front 1 and back 3, which are united at their lower edges while their upper edges are detached to form the mouth of the envelop. The front side 1 has a suitable address window 2 through which the address is exposed.

from the letter or contents, and this window serves to expose the address for both the initial and return trips. The ends of the sides are attached by means of end flaps 4 extending from the ends of the side 1 and bent back and overlapping the side 3 on the exterior. The lower portions or halves of the flaps 4 are pasted, as at 5, or otherwise attached to the side 3 during the manufacture of the envelop, thereby securing the sides together, but leaving-the upper portions of the flaps 4 loose so as to provide exterior pockets 6. The upper flaps 4 constitute shields for the ends of the reserve or return flap 7 which extends from the upper edge of the side 3. and the upper ends ofthe flaps 4 are out off at an angle so as not to I back on the exterior of the body against the outer surface of the side 3, and its ends are ends of the sealing flap 7. The flap 7 is provided thereon with a strip of adhesive paste for attaching such flap to the side 1 of the body when said flap 7 is brought down into sealing position. The flap 7 is thus retained on the outside of the body, so as not to in any way interfere with the placing of the contents in the envelop or the withdrawal therefrom, and such flap 7 and envelop are not apt to be torn or mutilated as is the case when such flap is normally tucked within the envelop.

v The initial sealing flap 9 extends from the upper edge of the front side 1 and is slightly larger than the flap 7 to conceal same when the flap 9 is swung against the back of the envelop. This flap 9 has a pair of longitudinal lines of perforations 10 and 11 near and parallel with the basal and free edges, respectively, of such flap, and the ends of the flap are preferably notched, as at 12, at the ends of the perforated or weakened lines 10 and 11. The fiap 9 has a removable strip 13 between the perforated lines 10 and 11, one end of which is formed with a tab 14 extending slightly beyond the corresponding end of the body, whereby such tab can be conveniently taken hold of by the thumb and finger in opening the envelop after the first trip. The stub 15 of the flap 9 between the perforated line 10 and front side 1 remains attached to said side, and sealing stri 16 between the perforated line 11 and free edge of the flap 9 contains adhesive for pasting it to the back side 3 and over the flaps 4 beyond the edge of the flap 7, as seen in Fi s. 2 and 3.

he envelop is preferably supplied to the user with the flaps 4 pasted to the side 3, and reserve flap '7 in place with its ends tucked within the pockets 6, and the flap 9 can be readily lifted or swung open for inserting the letter or other contents to ,the envelop as usual. The envelop can then be sealed by bringing the flap 9 against the back and moistening the sealing strip 16 and pasting it to the back with its ends pasted over the flaps 4. This will not only seal the envelop, but also conceal the flap 7. The window 2 will expose the address, and the postage stamp is placed on the side 1 near the upper edge and one thereof, as usual. When the envelop has reached its destination after the first trip, it can be readily opened without using an envelop opener, by simply grasping tab 14 with the thumb and finger and pulling it longitudinally away from the corres onding end of the body. The tab 14 can he readily grasped because ing strip 16 remains on the back of the envelop, and in overlapping and being attached to the flaps 4 will assist in holding said flaps against the body during the return trip. The removal of the strip 13 also exposes the reserve flap 7 which can be conveniently lifted from the back of the body and its ends withdrawn from the pockets 6, so that the reserve flap can be conveniently swung across the mouth of the envelop for the second sealing thereof by pasting this flap 7 to the front side 1. This will, at the same time, cover practically the entire portion of the front side above the window and conceal the initial postage stamp, postal marks and senders name, and said flap 7 can contain a return postage stamp which is brought into position by the sealing of said flap 7 against the front side 1, or leaving a space for the return postage stamp over or outside of the initial postage stamp. The window 2 exposes the return address, and the envelop is opened the second time by tearing open the flap 7 or opening the envelop in a usual manner.

in the modified form shown in Fig. 4, the perforated line 10 is spaced farther from the basal edge of the flap 9, so that the strip 13 is narrower and the stub 15 wider. This envelop can be used in the same way as above described, and has the additional advantages that it can be forwarded or mailed the first time unsealed at second class postage. To do this, the strip 13 is torn from the stub 15' and said stub is then held against the flap 7 by tucking the ends of the stub in the pockets 6, the same as the flap 7. The envelop can thus be mailed unsealed, for inspection, and after reaching its destination, the stub 15 can either be tucked within the envelop or folded against the' front, so that the flap 7 can be used for sealing the envelop for the return trip.

The flaps 4 are also of advantage in preventing the flap 7 being cut loose should an envelop opener be inserted under the flap 9 in opening the envelop, said flaps 4 preventiing plie opener from passing under the Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. An envelop having initial and reserve closure flaps, the reserve flap being foldable on the exterior in open position against one side of the envelop, the initial closure flap being attachable to said side beyond the reserve flap, and means on the exterior of said side for receiving the reserve flap and retainin it in such position independent of the inltial flap and protecting the reserve flap from being torn off when an envelop opener is inserted under the initial flap.

2. An envelop having a closure flap to be folded against the exterior in open position, and pockets on the exterior to receive and protect said flap and retain it in such position.

3. An envelop comprising front and back sides, flaps attaching said sides, and a closure flap extending from one side and adapted to be folded against one side on the exterior in open position, the first named flaps having loose portions for receiving such closure fla in open position to retain it in lace and s ield it.

4. envelophaving front and back sides, flaps extending from one side and overlapping the other side and a closure flap extending from the last named side and adapted to be folded back against it on the exterior in open position, portions of the first named flaps being secured to the second named side and having loose portions forming pockets to receive the closure flap.

, 5. An envelop having initial and reserve closure flaps extending from opposite sides, the reserve flap being foldable on the exterior in open position against the corresponding side, means on the exterior of said side for tem orarily receiving and retaining the reserve ap in place, and the initial closure flap having means for attaching it to said side beyond the edge of the reserve 6. An envelop havin front and back sides, flaps extending em one side and overlapping the other side, the lower portions of said flaps being secured to the last named side and having their upper portions loose to provide glilrkets and shields, the reserveflap exten g from the last named be folded against side, and adapted to be folded back against the outside and tucked within said pockets, and an initial closure flap extending from the first named-side and having a strip to be pasted to the last named side and first named flaps beyond the edge of the reserve flap, said initial closure flap having a weakened line for severing it to open the envelop and expose the reserve flap.

An envelop comprising front and back sides, flaps extending from the front side and overlapping the back side, the lower portions of said flaps being attached to the back side and the upper portions being loose to form pockets, a reserve closure flap extending from the back side and adapted to the exterior and tucked within .said pockets, and an initial closure flap extending from the front side and provided with a pair of weakened lines forming a removable strip between said lines and an adhesive strip beyond said removable strip to be attached to said back side and first named flap beyond the edge of the reserve flap.

8. An envelop comprising front and back sides, a flap extended from one side and overlapping and secured to the other side, and a closure fla extending from one side, the first named ap having a portion forming a pocket and shield to receive and protect the closure flap.

9. An envelop comprising front and back sides, a flap extended from one side and overlapping and having its lower portion secured to the other side, and a closure flap extending from the upper edge of one side, the upper portion of the first named flap being loose to form a pocket and shield to receive and protect the closure flap.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand. r JOHN KUHHORN. 

